The Trumbull Nature and Arts Center touches the lives of thousands of community members through a wide range of programs, activities, and volunteer opportunities.

We offer programs that bring families and the community together for fun and educational experiences. Our hands-on environment and art programs inspire learning, and encourage problem solving and critical thinking.

Come visit our playground!

Our playground, built out of recycled detergent bottles, is open year-round for children up to age 12.

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The Power of Environmental Hands-on Learning

Winter/Early Spring Programs

Maple Sugaring

3/3: Due to overwhelming popularity, registration for this program is now closed.

Join Ranger Mark for this fun family afternoon of maple sugaring. Observe how a maple tree is tapped, and learn how sap is made into sweet syrup over our campfire. We'll also have hiking, snacks and a maple craft activity.

​NOTE: This program is subject to cancellation, due to inclement weather. Please check website for updates.

Grow Your Own Pizza Garden

Learn how to grow a pizza garden with Master Gardener Vicky McCarthy. Whether you are a newbie or seasoned veteran, Vicky will show you the best way to grow your own herbs and vegetables. First 25 registrants will receive starter pots to take home.

Come join us for a morning of constructing, experimenting and exploring! In this workshop your job will be to design a unique marble track that defies gravity! You will use recycled cardboard to create ramps, runs and drops that help your marble find it's way to the bottom. The marble that takes the longest to get to the bottom of the ramp wins!

Join Miss Kathy to celebrate the wonders of nature with fine art and crafting at TNAC! Designed for those families seeking a quality, nature-based creative experience for their child, Kathy Vincent's workshops allow for an interpretive approach to creating art. Projects are designed to encourage creative thinking, problem solving, collaboration and self-expression. These open-ended projects will challenge the young artist to manipulate materials through the use of professional media, and enable them to make personal connections to the natural world.

"One Book One Town" and TNAC

TNAC is partnering with the Trumbull Library System in support of the 2015 "One Book One Town" event series. This year's book is "Animal,Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. Below are some events being held at TNAC this Spring as part of the "One Book One Town" program. Click here to find out more about all of this year's events.

ArtSmart Toad Hotels

Fashion a fabulous garden abode for your resident garden toad. Famous works of art will inspire designs painted on a terracotta pot...complete with a vacancy sign and a painted pebble path! Instructor: K. Vincent

Celebrating our 8th year of summer art programming! Let nature inspire your child's creative spirit this summer! Join Miss Kathy for another great summer of art at TNAC! Young artists will experiment with professional art materials, explore masterworks through critique and art games and discover new techniques in creating mixed media and unique crafts that promote self-expression and celebrate the wonders of nature. Artists will work both in studio and outdoors on TNAC grounds...enjoying time at our playground and picnicking beneath our beautiful maple tree.

ArtSmart Discovery - Animals in Art

​A wild week of animal themed art and crafting designed to encourage an appreciation of the beauty of wildlife. Projects include watercolor and acrylic painting, pastel and charcoal drawing, block printmaking, collage, clay sculpture and more! Instructor: K. Vincent

Each workshop students will participate in hands-on challenges focusing around concepts in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.​ Children will work in cooperative groups to brainstorm ideas, form and test hypotheses, develop plans, experiment with materials and share outcomes.

Nature Trail Easter Egg Hunt

Come to the nature center to search for Easter eggs on our nature trails.

Date: Sunday, March 29

Time: 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Ages: All ages

Cost: FREE*

*Sponsored and run by the TNAC Student Leadership Team. Small donations welcome. All donations go towards the Student Leadership Team projects and programs.

Come sit with us by the campfire and enjoy s’mores and intergalactic stories while members of the The Astronomical Society of New Haven lead us in looking through telescopes to check out the Moon, deep sky objects like Galaxies, star clusters, and nebulas – and maybe even a few planets. This event will take place in clear weather only. All ages welcome to the event, however, telescope viewing is for ages 7+.